Mental Stamina

Reading through the Press newspaper I came across a business story about mental stamina (“Mental stamina gives edge”, Saturday, January 13), which may have some relevance to people with inattentive ADHD.

In the article it is pointed out that there are two types of mental energy, “optimistic energy” and “anxious, obsessive energy” and that both types can be useful in moderation. However, too much positive energy can lead to impatience and impulsiveness and too much negative energy will lead too anxiety and depression.

Mental energy is a major issue for those with inattentive ADHD who suffer from an overall lack of mental energy as well as a tendency to waste mental energy on neurotic thinking.

Amanda Sinclair, a manager at the Melbourne Business School points out that mental stamina has tended to be overlooked in business schools, since it is largely determined by genetics and development early in life, and it has been in the interests of business schools to promote the idea that business leaders are “made not born”.

Hopefully, this increasing interest in mental stamina in the business world will have some positive spin-offs for people with inattentive ADHD, who are looking for ways to make the most of their energy limitations.